World oil prices tumbled today after the US said its crude inventories had surged last week, indicating weak energy demand in the world's biggest economy.
Brent North Sea crude for delivery in June slid $2.83 to $114.80 a barrel in late London deals. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for June, shed $3.09 to $100.79 a barrel.
In the US, the world's biggest consumer of oil, the Department of Energy announced that the country's crude stockpiles grew by 3.8 million barrels in the week to 6 May, far higher than had been expected by analysts.
It added that petrol inventories grew by 1.3 million barrels.
Despite sliding, crude oil futures remain at elevated levels and the high prices helped increase the US trade deficit in March, official data showed.
Elsewhere, the OPEC cartel held its forecast for world oil demand growth this year, saying rising consumption in China would make up for the uncertain outlook in the United States and in quake-hit Japan.
